The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has revealed documents and electronic devices allegedly recovered from the Abuja home of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The commission disclosed the details in documents filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court while opposing a N1bn suit instituted by the former governor to enforce his fundamental rights.
El-Rufai had challenged what he described as his unlawful arrest, detention and the search of his residence carried out last month.
In its court processes, the anti-graft agency argued that its operatives acted based on a valid search warrant issued on February 18 and executed the following day between 1:37pm and 3:56pm at his residence located at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
According to the commission, its team was accompanied by officers of the Nigeria Police Force, and the exercise was witnessed by his wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
Among the items reportedly recovered were investor account statements, asset declaration forms, certificates of registration for business entities, corporate compliance records, Know-Your-Customer documents, files linked to the welfare secretary of the African Democratic Congress, and records of domestic and foreign loans approved by the Kaduna State House of Assembly between 2015 and 2023. Interim investigation reports allegedly involving El-Rufai and some associates were also said to have been found.
Other materials listed included share certificates from Ecobank Nigeria Plc, land documents, valuation reports, deeds of assignment, irrevocable powers of attorney for several properties, Afri-Venture Capital Company papers, payment mandates, student financial service records, and media materials from the former governor’s office.
The commission further stated that several electronic devices were seized, including nine flash drives, a memory card, seven hard drives, multiple laptops such as Apple MacBook Pro and Elumac Book Pro models, and mobile phones including Blackberry, Nokia N95, Toshiba, Samsung IDEOS and Google IDEOS devices. A Remarkable tablet and about 18 other gadgets were also reportedly recovered.
It said all the items were properly documented and sealed for forensic examination, adding that a detailed device documentation form captured serial numbers, storage capacity and accessories. The documentation was said to have been witnessed by Hadiza El-Rufai, Mohammed El-Rufai, Ajibade Abiodun and Asjuquo J.E.
The commission acknowledged that El-Rufai indicated in the documentation that he did not grant consent for access to the devices recovered from his home.
The ICPC maintained that the materials would undergo forensic analysis as part of ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and asset concealment.
Reacting in a statement, the former governor’s family accused the commission of attempting to portray his silence during interrogation as evidence of wrongdoing.
In a statement signed by his son, Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, the former governor was quoted as saying, “Charge me, if you have anything against me. You have had more than two years to investigate me. Take me to court, please.”
The family insisted that his silence was a constitutional right and not proof of guilt, describing attempts to draw negative conclusions as reflective of an “inquisitorial mindset.”
They also disputed the scope of the recovered items, claiming that only personal belongings were taken, mainly old mobile phones and storage devices such as flash drives and laptops.
The family further alleged that the search warrant was invalid and fraudulently obtained, noting that their lawyers had challenged it in court.
Since leaving office in 2023, El-Rufai has been the subject of several investigations. In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly called for a probe into the alleged diversion of N423bn during his tenure.
He had previously been arrested by the State Security Service and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and is currently in ICPC custody. The commission, however, insisted that its actions were lawful and in line with its mandate to investigate corruption and related offences.
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